Meet the Guam Solid Waste Authority's new GM

Greg Martin doesn't mind talking trash. After all, he's the new boss at the Guam Solid Waste Authority, actually the agency's first ever General Manager. He is a Marine Corps veteran with 40 years worth of experience in transportation, in both the public and private sectors. He spent ten years with Waste Management, the world's largest waste and environmental management company based in Houston Texas.

He told KUAM News, "I came in as an operations manager right out of the marine corps. And I looked at the troops and the drivers about the same kind of operations I had daily, whether its dispatch or customer complaints or working with the local governments. I think a lot of that is going to help me here working with the local governments here. I had residential, I had commercial, I had roll-off, I even had portalets and street sweeping. So I'm real familiar with the different operations that go on at a trash company."

Guam's trash operations have been under a federal court-ordered receivership due to violations of the clean water act. It was under receiver Gershman Brickner and Bratton, who took control of the islandwide trash system in 2008, that the old Ordot dump was finally closed, and the Layon landfill was opened.

Martin said, "To come here and see what the receivership has taken from what I understand was an attempt to collect the weekly residential trash, it wasn't very effective. It was questionable whether trucks were going to be on the routes. I think what they've put together right now is something that I can build on. And I think that the residents here should be very comfortable that their trash collection is going to continue to get better."

GSWA is expected to take over from the receiver in December. Martin says he wants to continue the positive developments, and is looking forward to leading the "new" Guam Solid Waste Authority, saying, "We have some great people here that I've met. Very enthusiastic, administratively in the office out here. My drivers, are really concerned about their day-to-day operations. I'm excited about the people we have in place, and I think the support I have from the Guam government is really exciting."

Martin has been on the job for less than a month, but has identified what his priorities are, noting, "First of all I want to make sure that our drivers, they call them loaders here, I call them helpers, I want to make sure that they're all very secure in their positions. I think that's a major concern here and you've got to make sure that their confident that they have a position after the receivership leaves, and we're working on that right now to make that happen. Secondly, I want to continue with the recycling programs. We know we have a brand new landfill and when you're talking about age of landfill that comes back to all these small programs."

He's working toward a seamless transition from receivership to a semi-autonomous government agency. And his measure of success is: If no one talks trash. He said, "I always like to say that we're the company I hope nobody notices. And that simply means that whether there are any programs down the road here that we want to implement there's never a question about, hey you couldn't even collect the trash. Our main priority is to ensure that trash collection is something that's done correctly. The billing programs are done correctly. We respond to any phone calls, whether it be complaints, everything has to be done by the book, and I look forward to doing that."

Martin says he worked and traveled in the Asia Pacific before, so he's no stranger to the region. And despite his short time here, he's already feeling at home, saying, "I really like the atmosphere here. And marie and I are just very impressed, very impressed."

An investigation is underway at the Department of Corrections after an inmate was found dead inside his cell. DepCor director Tony Lamorena confirms the inmate was found unresponsive around 6am today in the prison’s medical unit. His identity is notMore >>

An investigation is underway at the Department of Corrections after an inmate was found dead inside his cell. DepCor director Tony Lamorena confirms the inmate was found unresponsive around 6am today in the prison’s medical unit. His identity is notMore >>

The trial against Raymond Martinez and Juanita Moser continued again at the District Court. Today, jurors heard cross-examination of Torrance Police Officer Ryan Schmitz by Martinez's defense counsel, Peter Perez. Officer Schmitz was the arresting officer who pulled over Martinez in a traffic stop resulting in the finding of eight pounds of meth. Perez argued the credibility of the government's witness, calling out inconsistencies in his testimonies and reports. Defense also...More >>

The trial against Raymond Martinez and Juanita Moser continued again at the District Court. Today, jurors heard cross-examination of Torrance Police Officer Ryan Schmitz by Martinez's defense counsel, Peter Perez. Officer Schmitz was the arresting officer who pulled over Martinez in a traffic stop resulting in the finding of eight pounds of meth. Perez argued the credibility of the government's witness, calling out inconsistencies in his testimonies and reports. Defense also...More >>

She wants the feds to investigate the Department of Corrections. Public safety oversight chair Senator Telena Nelson has asked US Attorney for Guam and the CNMI Shawn Andersen to send a request to the justice department to conduct an independent review of the recent events at the prison. Nelson wants them to find out if there have been any violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. Some of the things she points out include the assault on detainee Katlyn Scully,...More >>

She wants the feds to investigate the Department of Corrections. Public safety oversight chair Senator Telena Nelson has asked US Attorney for Guam and the CNMI Shawn Andersen to send a request to the justice department to conduct an independent review of the recent events at the prison. Nelson wants them to find out if there have been any violations of the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act. Some of the things she points out include the assault on detainee Katlyn Scully,...More >>

He is accused of pointing a gun at another driver on the road, and now faces drug charges. Sean Anthony Aquiningoc is charged drug possession and possession with intent to deliver, illegal possession of a firearm, theft by receiving, assault, and reckless conduct. Police tracked down the suspect's car after receiving a complaint that he allegedly pointed a gun at her along route 16 in Dededo. Along with a 9mm gun and full metal jacket bullets, police found marijuana leaves, and multip...More >>

He is accused of pointing a gun at another driver on the road, and now faces drug charges. Sean Anthony Aquiningoc is charged drug possession and possession with intent to deliver, illegal possession of a firearm, theft by receiving, assault, and reckless conduct. Police tracked down the suspect's car after receiving a complaint that he allegedly pointed a gun at her along route 16 in Dededo. Along with a 9mm gun and full metal jacket bullets, police found marijuana leaves, and multip...More >>

Corrections officers stopped prison contraband from getting into their facility. DepCor leaders say officers found chewing tobacco and pugua at the rear side of the domes while conducting a perimeter check on Sunday. No word yet if anyone is facing charges following the find. Authorities are investigating...More >>

Corrections officers stopped prison contraband from getting into their facility. DepCor leaders say officers found chewing tobacco and pugua at the rear side of the domes while conducting a perimeter check on Sunday. No word yet if anyone is facing charges following the find. Authorities are investigating...More >>

15 players from Guam's men's national soccer team are in San Diego for training camp. Matao Head Coach Karl Dodd says, "We are using this camp to evaluate the players off-island and to implement the new professional standards and playing style to those players."

15 players from Guam's men's national soccer team are in San Diego for training camp. Matao Head Coach Karl Dodd says, "We are using this camp to evaluate the players off-island and to implement the new professional standards and playing style to those players."

It was battle of the regions fire departments... Local and federal fire fighters from Guam and the CNMI spent the weekend at the Paseo Beach Park for this year's fire muster competition. They competed in a variety of physical contests that tested their strength, endurance and teamwork. Taking first place on day one was the Navy Federal Fire Department, and walking away with the overall win on Sunday, the CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Great job to all who comp...More >>

It was battle of the regions fire departments... Local and federal fire fighters from Guam and the CNMI spent the weekend at the Paseo Beach Park for this year's fire muster competition. They competed in a variety of physical contests that tested their strength, endurance and teamwork. Taking first place on day one was the Navy Federal Fire Department, and walking away with the overall win on Sunday, the CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services. Great job to all who comp...More >>

A mother admits to police she had just smoked the drug, ICE, when she tried to hurt herself and her five year old. Eileen Camille Mangarero is charged with assault on a police officer, family violence, and child abuse. Police responded to a disturbance along route 15 in Mangilao when they saw a woman holding a child in the middle of the road. A man known to her tried to help and calm her down. Authorities were able to get both the child and the woman off the road. But, it's at that po...More >>

A mother admits to police she had just smoked the drug, ICE, when she tried to hurt herself and her five year old. Eileen Camille Mangarero is charged with assault on a police officer, family violence, and child abuse. Police responded to a disturbance along route 15 in Mangilao when they saw a woman holding a child in the middle of the road. A man known to her tried to help and calm her down. Authorities were able to get both the child and the woman off the road. But, it's at that po...More >>

A 51 year old man is under arrest accused of sexually molesting an 11 year old girl known to him. Neron "Jack" Paulus is charged with 2 counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. Police responded to the complaint at an apartment complex in Agat on Saturday. Court documents state, the alleged abuse included oral sex and vaginal penetration. It was only after the victim began crying even louder that the suspect got off of her and left the bedroom. The suspect was also on ...More >>

A 51 year old man is under arrest accused of sexually molesting an 11 year old girl known to him. Neron "Jack" Paulus is charged with 2 counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct. Police responded to the complaint at an apartment complex in Agat on Saturday. Court documents state, the alleged abuse included oral sex and vaginal penetration. It was only after the victim began crying even louder that the suspect got off of her and left the bedroom. The suspect was also on ...More >>